A MOTORIST suspected of causing the death of his friend by trying evade police in a late night chase has been bailed pending further inquiries.

Adam McLoughlin, 32, from Blackhill, Consett, County Durham, was arrested in connection with the death of 49-year-old businessman Adam Parker Wilkinson.

The VW Bora they were in hit a telegraph pole on Ebchester Bank, near Consett, in the early hours of Tuesday, June 24.

It happened following a police pursuit after officers were alerted to ‘suspicious behaviour’ at Tesco on Genesis Way in Consett.

Mr Wilkinson was pronounced dead at the scene and Mr McLoughlin was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle with a broken hand and ribs as well as severe bruising.

He was arrested last week and questioned yesterday (Tuesday, July 1) by detectives at Peterlee Police Station before he was released.

Mr Wilkinson, a father-of-two, was the former managing director of car transporting firm AWP Transport.

An inquest into the circumstances surrounding his death was opened and adjourned today.